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My next words didn’t give either of us comfort. “They don’t know.”
Waking up with my head on Dakota’s chest, a leg thrown over him and my fingers in his thick chest hair was really not helping our boundaries issues, but he was so warm, comforting and left me feeling safe for a change. I knew I shouldn’t have invited him to sleep in my bed, but he was right. My wolf and I were touch starved.
“Stop thinking you’ll hurt yourself.” He grumbled.
I tried to chuckle and extricate myself, but he tugged at my arm and I left it in place.
“Look, my bear wants you to be pack. The more time we spend together, the less he pushes me to be with you. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this is helping me draw that line, not harming me in any way.”
My mind worked to process that information, and in some strange way, it made sense to me. The more time that I spent with Dakota, the more comfortable I got with him, like we were settling into some sort of sibling relationship.
“Kota?”
“Yeah?”
“How old are you?” Supernaturals rarely asked ages, since our longer lives made age irrelevant in most cases.
“Huh... um... I’m in my fifties in human years. Fifty-three.”
My head shot up and for the first time in days, the rapid movement didn’t make me want to blow chunks. “You’re older than Papa! You are literally old enough to be my daddy. Shall I call you that?” I teased. “Daddy Kota, what’s for breakfast?” I tilted my head at him and tried to widen my eyes to look all cute and innocent. He stared at me for a second before bursting into loud laughter. Then he ruffled my hair and got out of bed.
He’d dressed in sleep pants and they hung low on his hips. Despite having a mouthwatering body, lots of firm muscles covered in tanned skin and a drool worthy, happy trail leading to what looked like a sizable bulge, I had nothing but affection for the man. Objectively, I knew he was a great-looking guy and had the sense that he would have treated me really well now that I knew him a little better. I’d always been told to trust my gut, and it told me that Dakota wasn’t for me. He could be my new family, one that I chose for myself.
“How do you feel about pancakes? My Papa has a great recipe.”
My stomach growled then. “Sounds good. I’ll shower and join you in the kitchen.”
It’d been days since I’d showered and the water felt heavenly sluicing over my body. I took stock of the changes. I was substantially thinner than I’d been even a month ago, with my hip bones jutting out and my stomach slightly concave.
I dressed in sweatpants so I could pull the tie closed tightly to stop them from slipping down my ass. All of my clothes looked too big, my hair and eyes dull, my skin dry. It would be too easy to wallow in self pity, but these changes were temporary. I’d eat well and exercise and soon be back to myself.
The smells from the kitchen were divine and I followed my nose to the small table where a plate stacked high with fluffy pancakes and bacon waited for me. Dakota grumbled something too low for me to hear and put his phone away before turning to hand me an empty plate. He observed me and made sure I’d served myself a decent helping of bacon before he filled his own plate.
We ate in comfortable silence until Dakota reminded me to take it slowly. “You’ll make yourself sick, eating that fast. I can make more.”
“With what? I’m surprised there was enough food to make all this.”
Dakota looked a tad abashed. “I stopped by the twenty-four seven and picked up things I hoped you’d like before I came over last night.”
Moon help me. He was a sweetheart. Squeezing his hand I said, “thank you.”
He stood as he finished up eating. “I’m going to go shower if that’s okay. Then we can go to that magic shop like you wanted.”
An hour later, we were on the road in Dakota’s truck and heading to the magic shop. We filled the car with classic rock and I sang along quietly to songs that I remembered from my childhood.
“You have a fantastic voice, Kade.”
I blushed. “Thanks. I always liked to sing with Papa at home. This song was one of his favorites.” Dakota listened to me sing the rest of the way, occasionally joining me, his voice a lovely baritone that blended well with mine. I’d catch his eye and smile when we harmonized. This was what I’d been looking for but hadn’t found in any of the places I’d lived in since they dissolved my pack. A connection that didn’t rely on some sort of transactional affection. Dakota needed nothing from me to treat me well. He just cared about my wellbeing. I had to keep this. This was where I needed to make my stand and I felt it to my bones. I was done running.
The Spell Shop was strangely quiet when we entered. Poppy came through from the back at the ring of the bell welcoming us and stopped dead.
“Pops?” Her reaction confused the hell out of me.
“Moon help me, Kade! I wish you would have called to say you were okay or something. They have dragged me over the coals! First the hospital healer over the phone, then my coven leader visited the shop, and finally the council called over giving you the beta potion, even when they allowed me to in the first place!” I still couldn’t tell if she was more worried or angry at me.
“Oh my Goddess, I’m so sorry, Pops. You had no idea that it would react to me the way it did.” I rushed forward and pulled her into a hug.
She pushed me back so she could look me over, still holding my shoulders. “How didn’t I notice how sick you look?”
